ESPE Abstracts (2022) 95 P1-146

1Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, London, United Kingdom; 2Putrajaya Hospital, Malaysia, Malaysia; 3University College London, London, United Kingdom; 4Genetics and Genomic Medicine Research and Teaching Programme, UCl, London, United Kingdom


Introduction: Ectopic posterior pituitary (EPP) is a radiological diagnosis likely caused by a migration defect that occurs during pituitary development. We aim to describe the clinical characteristics and hormonal deficiencies seen in patients with EPP.

Method: Longitudinal observational study performed in a single [HK1] [NM2] centre from 1993-2020. As per MRI findings, cases were divided into three cohorts 1) C1: EPP only [n=8 (9%)] 2) C2: EPP + PSIS (Pituitary Stalk interruption Syndrome) [n=44 (49.4%)] and 3) C3: EPP + Cortical abnormalities (CA) [n=37 (41.6%)].

Results: 89 patients were identified with EPP (55 male (61.8%)). The median duration of follow up was 9.85 years (IQR 3.96).

Table 1 Characteristics of Cohort
  C1 C2 C3
Median Age at presentation (in years) 2.73 2.36 1.2
Symptoms at presentation      
Short Stature 4 (50%) 19 (43.2%) 7 (18.9%)
Hypoglycaemia 2 (25%) 21 (46.7%) 22 (48.9%)
Incidental MRI finding 2 (25%) 4 (9%) 0
Ophthalmology Referral 0 0 8 (21.6%)

Table 2 Spectrum of Endocrinopathies
  C1 C2 C3 p- value
Isolated GHD 5 (62.5%) 8 (18.2%) 5 (13.5%) 0.009
GHD+ACTHD+TSHD 0 30 (68.2%) 29 (78.4%) <0.005
GHD+ACTHD 0 2 (4.5%) 1 (2.7%) 1.00
GHD+TSHD 1(12.5%) 3 (6.8%) 1 (2.7%) 0.489
ACTHD+TSHD 0 1 (2.3%) 0  
Isolated TSHD 0 0 1 (2.7%)  
Hypogonadotropic Hypogonadism 0 20 (45%) 12 (32.4%) 0.04
Age of GHD (mean ± SD) 6.02± 3.40 3.68 ± 3.12 2.96 ± 3.06  
Age of ACTHD (mean ± SD) 0 3.26 ± 4.53 1.68 ± 2.64  
Age of TSHD (mean ± SD) 3.86 3.29 ± 4.05 1.97 ± 2.84  
No hormone deficiency 2 (25%) 0 0  
GHD: growth hormone deficiency
ACTHD: Adrenocorticotrophic hormone deficiency
TSHD: Thyroid stimulating hormone deficiency

GHD was the single most frequent endocrinopathy across all cohorts (n=83, 93.2%). C2 and C3 both had evidence of MPHD with 72.8% within these groups having GHD, ACTHD and TSHD. ACTHD was the earliest endocrinopathy to present at 1.68 years in C3 and 3.26 years in C2. This was followed by TSHD which presented at 1.97 years in C3 and 3.29 years in C2. GHD developed before 5 years in C2 and C3 and after 5 years in C1.

Discussion and conclusion: The presence of other abnormalities in addition to EPP were associated with progression to multiple pituitary hormone deficiency (MPHD). EPP with normal pituitary stalk and no CA is a strong predictor for isolated GHD rather than MPHD.

Volume 95

60th Annual ESPE (ESPE 2022)

Rome, Italy
15 Sep 2022 - 17 Sep 2022

European Society for Paediatric Endocrinology 

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